Page 19 of Royal Beast (Royals of the Underworld #1)

DARCY

K ellan’s words hang in the air between us, my worst fears coming true.

“She’s not yours, Kellan,” I quickly answer, forcing the words to come out steady and calm. “Rose was the result of a one-night stand. Before you and I met.”

The silence that follows is heavy, almost suffocating. His expression is unreadable, but I catch the faintest flicker of disappointment in his eyes and my heart wrenches.

I can’t look at him. I let my gaze drift to the skyline instead, watching the lights blur as I blink, willing myself to feel nothing.

But the lie tastes bitter, twisting low in my stomach.

I remind myself that I’m doing this to keep the peace, to protect Rose from whatever chaos the truth might bring.

He nods slowly, almost reluctantly, but he doesn’t press me further. That shadow in his gaze lingers, and though I’ve dodged one storm, I know I’ve stirred another. As much as it aches, I convince myself that I’ve done the right thing—for Rose, and maybe selfishly, for myself.

The waiter brings our check. Kellan guides us out of the restaurant and down to the waiting limousine.

His hand rests on the small of my back as we walk, his expression soft, eyes warm.

I feel the sting of my lie. I watch him for any sign of the hurt I saw earlier, but he’s carefully tucked it away, pulling me close beside him, making me feel like we’re right back where we left off.

As the limo glides through the city lights, he pours two glasses of champagne, handing me one with a slight smile. “To an unforgettable night,” he says, his gaze holding mine.

I clink my glass against his, letting myself ease back into the comfort of his warmth.

It feels so good to be with him like this, to have him look at me like I’m the only one in the world, even if I know I’m keeping something from him.

I tell myself that it’s better this way, that preserving the peace we have is worth it.

But the tiny voice of guilt in the back of my mind lingers, and I feel as if I’m holding this fragile moment with trembling hands.

When we get home, Kellan’s hand trails down my arm as we walk up to the building, his gaze darkening as he pulls me close, his lips ghosting over my neck. “I don’t want this night to end just yet,” he murmurs, his voice a low rumble that sends a shiver through me.

His phone buzzes, shattering the moment. His face hardens as he checks the screen, his eyes flicking to mine apologetically. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. Just give me a moment.”

After a few moments, he returns with an apologetic expression. “There’s some business I need to attend to. Sorry about this.” He walks away, giving me one last lingering look, and I ride the elevator alone.

The next morning, I wake to find Kellan’s side of the bed still empty, the sheets cold in his spot.

I stare at the empty space, feeling the weight of his absence and the lingering guilt that settled in the pit of my stomach last night.

But there’s little time to dwell as the buzzer rings from the foyer.

I get up, wrap a robe around myself, and slip out of the bedroom, waving to Rose who is eating breakfast under the supervision of the new nanny, Doreen.

I open the door to find Clary, a warm smile on her face. “Good morning, Darcy,” she greets me. “Mr. Kellan asked me to take you shopping for the gala tonight. Sorry for the early arrival, but I thought it best that we get started right away.”

I nod, welcoming her inside. “Let me get dressed,” I say, watching as Rose waves brightly to Clary, who waves back.

Once I’m dressed in something comfortable, I grab my purse, kiss and hug Rose goodbye, then Clary and I head downstairs and climb into the waiting town car.

“So, are you excited about tonight?” she asks.

“Excited might be a bit of a stretch,” I reply, smirking. “I think nervous covers it better. I’ve never been to anything this formal.”

“Oh, don’t worry,” she says with a wave of her hand. “I’ll help you find the perfect dress. You’ll fit right in.”

It’s hard to imagine myself dazzling anyone tonight, but her confidence is infectious, and I’ve relaxed a bit by the time we arrive at the boutique. Inside, rows of elegant gowns line the walls, and Clary wastes no time, immediately pulling a sleek, deep purple dress from one of the racks.

“This would look amazing on you,” she says, passing it over. “Trust me.”

I hold it up to my frame, admiring the silky fabric. “You seem to have a knack for this,” I say with a smile. “Is this what you always wanted to do?”

Clary chuckles, shaking her head. “Not exactly. I sort of stumbled into it, actually. Working for Mr. Brannagan is only a stepping stone.” She hesitates, glancing down as she smooths out a wrinkle on the gown.

“I’ve been saving up to leave home. Let’s just say it’s a bit of a rough situation, and this job is helping me get away. ”

I pause, taken aback. I’d never imagined Clary dealing with something like that. There’s a vulnerability there, and I admire the courage she must have to deal with someone so cold just to get away from something worse.

“Wow, I had no idea,” I say. “That’s pretty brave.”

She shrugs it off with a modest smile. “Just something I have to do, you know? I’m lucky I found this job.”

I give her a smile and a shoulder squeeze before heading to the fitting room with the gown she’d chosen.

As the dressing room door clicks shut behind me, I get undressed then slip the gown over my head.

I take a moment to look at myself in the full-length mirror.

The dress is a beautiful, deep plum purple.

It hugs my body just right, the fabric cascading down around my legs in a waterfall.

I give myself a critical once-over, my fingers lightly tracing the smooth material.

Clary asks, “What do you think?”

Opening the door, I show off the dress and twirl. She lights up at the sight. “It looks so good on you!”

I turn to face her, offering a small smile. “You think so?”

Clary looks me up and down and then tilts her head. “It’s not just good, it’s perfect. You’re going to crush it tonight in that.”

I smile. “All thanks to you. I feel so confident in this dress. You have impeccable taste, girl.”

Clary’s smile fades for just a moment, and I can see her hesitation, as though she’s considering something. “I’m really happy we’re getting along. You’re not like most people I’ve worked for, Darcy. You’ve been very kind to me.”

I raise an eyebrow, surprised by the sudden shift. “What makes you say that?”

Clary shifts her weight and looks away for a moment, then back at me. “I guess… I don’t know. I’m not in the best situation. Working for Rory’s been a way out. I’ve been saving up, trying to get away from my family. Things aren’t exactly great at home.”

I pause, my heart going out to her. “I’m sorry, Clary. That sounds tough.”

She shrugs it off with a small smile. “Don’t feel sorry for me. I’m working on it. I’m gonna make it out of there. I have dreams and plans. I’m going to open my own dress shop one day, maybe even design for someone like you,” she teases.

I laugh, shaking my head. “When you do, I’ll be your first customer.”

She winks. “You’ve got a deal. But enough about me. What about you, Darcy? You’ve got your own dreams, right?”

I pause for a moment then nod, the words spilling out before I can stop them. “I’ve always wanted to publish children’s books. I’ve written a few, but I never had the courage to go through with it. I don’t know if anyone would even read them. It’s silly, right?”

Clary’s eyes soften. “That’s not silly at all. I think people love that kind of thing. Kids need stories that make them believe they can do anything. I bet you’d be amazing at it. Don’t let fear stop you from chasing it.”

I swallow, trying to push down the lump in my throat. “Thanks. That means a lot to me, coming from you.”

Clary’s smile brightens, and for a second, I can see a spark of hope in her eyes—the same one I feel whenever I think about my own dreams. She studies me for a moment in the mirror.

“You know, I want to be a fashion designer. But the school’s so expensive and I can’t afford it.

I’ve thought about saving up, but I’m not sure how long that’ll take.

And right now, I’m saving up to get out of my parents’ house. ”

“I get that,” I say quietly. “It’s like you’re stuck in a cycle, right? Trying to build something bigger but the steps seem too big, too far apart.”

Clary nods, her gaze thoughtful. “Exactly. But I’m not giving up. Not yet.”

“I’m not either,” I say softly, the weight of my own words settling inside me.

Clary helps me pick out shoes and a handbag to go with the gown. After leaving the boutique, we stop at a quaint café for lunch before heading back to the penthouse.

At home, I take a long, hot shower, exfoliating and treating my hair with Moroccan oil.

After smoothing on some coconut scented lotion, I wrap my hair in a towel and sit in front of the vanity.

I take my time applying my makeup, using subtle shades of nudes and coppers.

I play up the blue in my eyes with some bronze shadow and intense black mascara.

After drying my hair, I curl it in waves, allowing it to fall softly around my face and shoulders. I change into the gown and slip on the heels, making sure everything falls perfectly into place. I add a teardrop necklace and delicate drop earrings to finish it off.

My phone buzzes. Kellan is outside, waiting for me.

Grabbing my clutch, I rush down to the lobby and push open the glass doors. Kellan is leaning against the limousine, looking gorgeous in a tailored tux, texting on his phone.

The moment his eyes land on me, his mouth goes slightly ajar. He looks me up and down, enchantment flashing in his eyes.

“Shit,” he says as I approach. He looks at me as if he's seeing me for the first time. He offers his arm, and I blush. As we settle into the backseat together, I notice his eyes never leave me.

I feel a sudden spark within. It feels different, like something big is going to happen between us. I glance at Kellan and sidle closer, excited about the promise of tonight.